The Northern Senators Forum has raised the alarm over the abduction of 42 students and children from Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Mussa, in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, warning against a repeat of the prolonged tragedy that followed the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping.
The forum, through its Chairman, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, condemned the attack and called on the federal government and security agencies to launch immediate and coordinated rescue operations to secure the safe return of the victims.
In a statement issued, on Monday, Yar’Adua described the abduction, which reportedly occurred on Friday, May 15, as “an attack on innocent children and a direct assault on the right to education and the future of Northern Nigeria.”
He said, “We strongly condemn the abduction of 42 students and children from GDSS Mussa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. This attack on innocent children in school is unacceptable and a direct assault on the right to education and the future of Northern Nigeria.”
The forum specifically urged the federal government, the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai and other security agencies to intensify efforts towards rescuing the pupils without delay.
According to the statement, “We call on the federal government, the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai and all relevant security agencies to immediately intensify rescue operations and secure the safe and unconditional release of all the abducted children.”
The senators warned that the nation could not afford another prolonged kidnapping crisis similar to the Chibok incident, which drew global outrage and left many families in anguish for years.
“We must not allow this incident to become another prolonged tragedy like the Chibok abduction. Every hour counts, and the families of these children cannot endure another decade of uncertainty and pain,” he said.
The forum also expressed solidarity with the people and government of Borno State, insisting that urgent and decisive measures must be taken to halt recurring attacks on schools and vulnerable communities in the North-East.
“The Northern Senators Forum stands with the people of Borno State and demands decisive, coordinated action to rescue the victims and prevent a recurrence of such attacks on our schools,” the statement added.
Deji Elumoye, Sunday Aborisade, Linus Aleke in and Kemi Olaitan
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